Überraschung
Language: German (Deutsch) after the Scottish (Scots)
Ich seufzt' einmal
Bei Mondes Strahl
Dort unter jener Eiche;
Da kam mir's vor,
Als ob vom Thor
Mein Schatz herüber schleiche.
Ich traute nicht
Dem Dämmerlicht;
Doch über'n Zaun her sprang er,
Und sank -- o Lust! --
Mir an die Brust,
Und Brust und Arm umschlang er.
Verbogen gar
Die Mütz' ihm war,
Als er mich küßt' und drückte,
Und ich -- so schwach
Vom Kuß, der -- ach! --
Die Seele mir entrückte!
Verwünschter Krieg!
Wie sank und stieg
Die Brust mir so beklommen!
Doch nun -- halloh! --
Wie bin ich froh,
Daß er zurückgekommen!
Ging Alt und Jung
Zu Tanz und Sprung,
Saß ich im engen Stübchen,
Und dacht' allein,
In Angst und Pein,
An mein entferntes Bübchen;
Doch -- Gott sey Lob! --
Der Krieg zerstob;
Mein Johnnie kehrt' in's Städtchen:
Nun tanz' auch ich
Und putze mich
So gut, wie andre Mädchen!
Confirmed with Robert Burns' Gedichte, deutsch von W. Gerhard, Mit des Dichters Leben und erläuternden Bemerkungen, Leipzig, Verlag von Joh. Ambr. Barth, 1840, pages 166-167.
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Based on:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2015-05-04
Line count: 36
Word count: 140
Once, I sighed
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Once, I sighed
When the moon was shining
There under yonder oak;
Then it seemed to me
As if from the gate
My darling was sneaking over to me.
I did not trust
The gloaming;
But over the fence he sprang,
And sank -- oh joy! --
Upon my breast
And embraced my bosom and arm.
All twisted up
His cap became,
As he kissed and squeezed me,
And I -- so weak
From the kiss, which -- ah! --
Enraptured my soul!
Cursed war!
How so oppressedly
My bosom sank and rose!
But now -- hallo! --
How happy I am
That he has returned!
When young and old
Went to the dance and leaping,
I sat in my narrow room,
And only thought
In fear and anguish
Of my distant lad;
But -- may God be praised! --
The war ended;
My Johnny returned to town:
Now I, too, dance
And dress up
As nicely as other girls do!
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Überraschung" = "Surprise"
"Ich seufzt' einmal" = "Once, I sighed"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2018-03-03
Line count: 36
Word count: 152